10 Wrestling Matches Fans Can’t Agree On

7. John Cena Vs. The Rock - WWE WrestleMania XXVIII

Ospreay Ricochet
WWE

Some fans have it that the first match between The Rock and John Cena was a modern classic - one which compensated for its basic action with a classic narrative of two equals contesting a close battle for dominance. The not inconsiderable crowd heat, the all-important barometer, measured its success.

Others found it dreadfully overlong and self-indulgent, and their stance is justified upon revisit. The Rock was sucking air at the five minute mark - a clear indication that a match of such epic duration was beyond him. Cena, too, called the action with a volume that was noticeable even by his curtain-revealing standards. The heat in the match's promotion was much more tangible than in the match itself, so it could well be argued that it failed. Wrestling matches are supposed to reach a crescendo at the finish - Rock Vs. Cena I peaked before the bell rang.

Like most matches, it's best to judge it on its finish.

Conventional wisdom has it that The Rock won cleanly - but he didn't so much win as Cena lost. The match was built for a calendar year - but it acted as a trailer for the proper feature. It was, arguably a waste of time. For a match that should not have exceeded fifteen minutes, it's almost appropriate.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!